Cannes 2011: Elena by Andrey Zvyagintsev, Un Certain Regard.

It’s time for a little chat about the upcoming Cannes Film Festival which kicks off on May 11th. So, let’s get straight to the point guys! We’ll start with the Un Certain Regard category, and add another title to the list.

It’s a project titled simply Elena, it comes from Russian director Andrei Zvyagintsev, and it’s the same project which won funding and support from the Sundance Institute and NHK. So, it’s definitely worth our attention, too.

Here’s the synopsis part: “Elena and Vladimir are an older couple, they come from different backgrounds. Vladimir is a wealthy and cold man, Elena comes from a modest milieu and is a docile wife. They have met late in life and each one has children from previous marriages. Elena’s son is unemployed, unable to support his own family and he is constantly asking Elena for money.

Elena Movie Photo

Vladimir’s daughter is a careless young woman who has a distant relationship with her father. A heart attack puts Vladimir in hospital, where he realizes that his remaining time is limited. A brief but somehow tender reunion with his daughter leads him to make an important decision: she will be the only heiress of his wealth. Back home he announces it to Elena. Her hopes to financially help her son suddenly vanish. The shy and submissive housewife then comes up with a plan to give her son and grandchildren a real chance in life…”

Sounds interesting, especially when we know that the movie comes from a guy who directed 2003′s The Return, movie that was nominated for a Golden Globe and won the Golden Lion for the best director’s debut at the Venice Film Festival.

Elena is Zvyagitsnev’s third feature, and according to the director, his most realistic film to date.

So, he definitely has a chance to impress us once again at this year’s Cannes Film Festival with his Elena which will be screened on Saturday, May 21st, at the Closing ceremony of Un Certain Regard.

At the end let me mention that Elena stars Andrey Smirnov, Nadezhda Markina and Elena Lyadova. We wish them all good luck at Cannes!